Sunday shows: Senate health debate heats up

Senate Republicans unveiled a draft of their long-awaited plan to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system on Thursday, but face a challenging road to getting the legislation through the upper chamber.

Senate GOP leaders have indicated that they hope to hold a vote on the measure, dubbed the Better Care Act, next week. But deep divisions over the legislation could complicate its support.

Republicans, who hold 52 seats, need just 50 votes to approve the measure. But five GOP senators have already announced their opposition to the bill in its current form, and several others remain undecided, leaving the fate of the healthcare bill unclear.

Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), one of the chamber’s most moderate Republicans, has voiced misgivings about the bill, but hasn’t ruled out a vote in favor of it. She’s set to appear on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.

Also appearing on “This Week” is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the five senators opposed to the bill as it stands. Paul has argued that the measure doesn’t go far enough to repeal ObamaCare and views it as benefitting large insurance companies.

Despite the misgivings of some GOP lawmakers, Trump administration officials have voiced optimism that the Senate bill will pass.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, one of the Trump administration’s key players in its push to repeal ObamaCare, is set to appear on CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday” as the administration rallies support for the Senate bill.

Here’s the full lineup this week:

ABC’s “This Week”: Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is set to go on the show. He’ll be joined by Collins and Paul, as well as senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway.

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), one of the Senate’s fiercest opponents of the GOP healthcare bill, will appear on the show, as will Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). They’ll be joined by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

“Fox News Sunday”: Price will be on. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin(D-Ill.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will also make appearances.

CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are all set to appear on the program.

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Price will make an appearance. Also on the show will be Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), who has voiced concerns about the Senate healthcare bill.